Chapter 130

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 130

Chapter Title: The Mayor and the Cleanup

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Life never quite goes the way you want it to.

"Nero. You're so lucky. You just eat and sleep without a care in the world. It's the envy of everyone."

Grrr rumble...

A satisfied purr rumbled from Nero, sprawled across my lap.

Yeah, you're the true winner here.

Not a hero, not a villain, not even the mayor—just a cat.

Cats rule the world.

Cats don't work.

Cats don't pay taxes.

Cats don't pull all-nighters.

Cats don't get assassinated.

And above all, cats don't have to watch out for their secretary's mood.

Wait, doesn't Nero watch out for Seria sometimes?

Whatever.

"I have to be born as a cat in my next life."

Churu in the morning, salmon for lunch, tuna for dinner.

Sleep 18 hours a day, spend the other 6 tormenting the help.

Who'd be my owner? Seria?

...Just imagining it gives me chills.

A panda wouldn't be bad either.

Treated like national treasure, munching bamboo all day.

Roll around occasionally, and the whole world cheers 'How cute!'

Penguins aren't half bad.

Waddle around, slide across the ice, chow down on fish.

Plus, tuxedo comes free for life.

No dress code worries.

Antarctica might be cold, but zoos have great systems these days.

Full AC and heat. Three fishy meals a day. Best job ever.

Anything's better than being human.

Especially the mayor of Neo Incheon.

"...?"

I bolted upright on reflex.

Nyaow~

Nero slid off my lap and tumbled under the sofa.

Cleanup? Me? When?

I'm the guy who doesn't clean the office until Seria's anger gauge hits over 70%.

Midnight.

The abandoned old city district.

On the rooftop of a building remodeled into Ninja Town.

Exactly on time, without a second's delay, twenty black shadows converged.

Their outfits—ninja garb—clashed bizarrely with the modern urban skyline.

Ninja blades gleamed ominously in the moonlight.

Leading them was a white-haired elder.

Genji, elder of the Black Spider Clan.

His hand slowly caressed his cane sword. The rose emblem etched on the scabbard shimmered coldly under the moon.

"Somewhere in this city lurks the blasphemer who dared target our lord, Lord Lee Garam."

The twenty ninjas bowed in unison. No reply.

"Go. Find them. Kill them. Teach them the price of insolence against the daimyo—down to their bones."

No sooner had Genji spoken than the twenty shadows melted into the city's darkness like black clouds.

Jung District Chinatown back alley.

Glamorous red lanterns hid a seedy aura.

Beneath a faded Chinese restaurant sign, a massive iron door blocked the underground entrance.

Basement level 3: The illegal casino 'Black Diamond'.

Creeeak—

The rusty hinges groaned as the door swung open, spilling out thick air laced with cigarette smoke, booze, and human greed.

"Halt."

Four guards at the entrance leveled their guns.

"Who the hell are you, barging in without permission?"

"Some old geezer lost his way?"

"Cosplay club's that way, gramps."

Genji ignored them and advanced.

"One more step, and we'll put a hole in your skull!"

The warning fell on deaf ears; Genji didn't break stride.

Bang! Bang!

One guard lost his patience and fired.

That instant—

Shrick!

A flash sliced the air.

Genji's hand moved at invisible speed.

Clang! Clang!

The two bullets split perfectly in half mid-flight and dropped.

"Wh-what?!"

The guards' eyes widened in horror.

Slice.

A strange sound followed.

The barrels of their pistols sheared off diagonally, sliding to the floor.

"Eek!"

"Nin-ninja!? Why!? Why's a ninja here!?"

"Black Spider...! It's the Black Spider Clan!"

Genji pointed his cane sword's tip at them.

"Was it you who targeted the daimyo?"

"D-daimyo? What yakuza flick is this? We don't know anything about that!"

At the same time, Bupyeong Rodeo Street back alley.

Poison Dragon Gang remnants' drug deal site.

Shizuka stood before them, dressed not in ninja garb but as a red pizza delivery guy.

"Hey, looks like you took a wrong turn."

One thug leered as he approached.

"Wanna have some fun with us?"

Shizuka replied indifferently, eyes glued to her smartphone.

"I'm kinda busy. Got another delivery next. Let's make this quick."

"Huh?"

That was the signal.

Swish—

Shizuka vanished, leaving only an afterimage.

In the blink of an eye—

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Dull impacts echoed as thugs crumpled limply.

One second flat.

Shizuka stood back in place.

Every thug in the hideout littered the floor.

The boss trembled, bound to a chair.

"L-Lee Garam? Why would we target the mayor! We're legit now, supplying ingredients to Insimdang! Living clean!"

Shizuka tilted her head.

"Legit? Including that drug deal just now?"

"Th-that was... clearing out the last stock... One last time, then we're done for real!"

The boss's pitiful excuse echoed hollowly.

Namdong-gu abandoned factory zone.

Hideout of the info broker group 'Information Gate'.

Suddenly, purple mist seeped from the vents.

"Cough! Cough! What's this gas...!"

"Body... going numb..."

Organization members collapsed powerlessly.

Tsubaki emerged from the mist.

Calm amid the poison fog, she approached the broker boss.

The boss crawled, begging.

"Cough... P-please! We just sell info! No violence!"

"You sold info on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mayor's assassination too, right?"

"No! We don't take crazy jobs like that! Money's good, but not worth dying!"

Hours later.

In a K-Ninja Town warehouse.

Bosses who'd ruled Neo Incheon's underworld gathered. All bound with ropes, kneeling on the floor.

"We didn't do it! We just run casinos—assassination ain't our thing!"

Black Diamond's boss wailed.

"Why touch Lee Garam? Special Task Force would smash us next day! Doesn't add up!"

Red Snake's boss protested his innocence.

"Black Knight? We'd never tangle with that monster! For real! Believe us!"

Information Gate's boss was on the verge of tears.

"Elder, these seem unrelated to the assassination. Their reactions look genuine."

At Shizuka's words, Genji closed his eyes quietly.

"I know."

Shizuka's eyes widened at the unexpected reply.

Genji slowly opened his eyes. They were deep, cold abysses.

"But we can't let this chance slip."

He gazed coldly at the kneeling bosses.

"These cancer lumps have festered in Neo Incheon's body without pretext to excise. Use this failed assassination as excuse—wipe them all out."

A faint smile curled Genji's lips.

'This too... must be Lord Lee Garam's stratagem, earning him the moniker Strategist.'

Our lord baited himself to grant pretext for purging the underworld.

Unfathomable depths.

Genji shivered.

Loyalty to his lord set his heart ablaze.

"From tonight, Neo Incheon's nights belong to the Black Spider Clan."

That night marked a redraw of Neo Incheon's underworld map.

The Black Spider Clan raided crime syndicates, absorbing their info networks, funds, and manpower.

Just five days after the assassination attempt surfaced.

Unbeknownst to Lee Garam, his kingdom solidified from both light and shadow sides of the city.

I went to work today too.

Right on time for the mayor's exclusive 9:50 arrival.

I flung myself onto the office sofa the moment I entered.

Something felt off, though.

Normally, Seria would've yanked me up and shoved a pile of documents at me...

"What's up? Don't tell me it's a day off?"

I asked hopefully, but Seria shook her head.

"Mayor, have you seen the news?"

"News? Why watch depressing stuff first thing? It's either politician scandals or celeb gossip anyway."

Seria picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

"...What?"

I rubbed my eyes.

Looked again.

Still the same.

"Wha-wha-what?!"

"Wha-wha-wha-what the hell?!"

I'm seriously doubting if the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠news on my screen is deepfake.

No, it has to be. Otherwise, none of this makes sense.

Today's anchor roared with fervor.

#Justice_LeeGaram

#WarOnCrime

#SilentAvenger

What?

Why?

What did I even do?

The screen switched to an interview with a grandma selling tteokbokki at an illegal stall.

Cut to Bupyeong Rodeo Street club front. A glamorously dressed college girl grabbed the mic.

Apartment playground. Young housewife holding her kid's hand sighed in relief.

Taxi drivers, students, office workers.

All singing my praises in one voice.

Life's better without gangsters. Streets safer at night.

Neo Incheon safer than Seoul now.

No, seriously—what did I do?

I was just kneading Nero's belly on the sofa, thinking 'Ugh, don't wanna work today.'

Then—

Bang!

The office door flew open. Without permission.

That confident stride. That iron expression. Special Task Force Captain Kang Jiyeong.

She marched to my desk and slammed down a thick stack of documents.

Thud!

The desk screamed.

"Special sweep operation complete report."

Her voice was more declaration than report.

"In the past three days, arrested 247 villains lurking in Neo Incheon. Destroyed 32 hideouts."

"......"

"As per the mayor's will, we've cleaned Neo Incheon spotless."

My will?

My will?

"Hold on, Captain Kang. When did I ever order—"

"Silence is the strongest command. We read ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your anger and handled it."

No, that was just me with nothing to say.

Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anger—just tired.

As I opened my mouth to retort, the door opened again.

Knock knock.

There was a knock this time, but barging in without waiting made it no different from Kang Jiyeong.

Audit Enforcer Kang Hyunwoo.

He too carried a thick stack. Slammed it on my desk like her.

Thud!

Desk screamed again. Poor thing.

"Special audit complete report. Exposed 15 corrupt companies. Processed all involved appropriately."

"......"

"As you wished, mayor. Carved out society's rot. Secured hefty city funds via their 'voluntary' donations."

Wished? I never wished for any of that!

Kang Hyunwoo adjusted his glasses and added,

"This assassination attempt turned out to be a golden opportunity to resolve Neo Incheon's long-standing issues."

"Opportunity? I nearly died—that's an opportunity!?"

"Ah, revenge."

He corrected softly.

"The city's rightful revenge for the insult to its mayor."

I was speechless. I glared at them alternately and yelled,

"So! Did you catch the Black Knight? That bastard—did you get him!?"

They both shook their heads, ever so slightly, in sync.

Kang Jiyeong spoke first.

"No. No leads found."

Kang Hyunwoo followed.

"Same here."

"Then this was all for nothing!"

I told them to catch the perp, not flip the city and nab randoms!

But they took my rage differently.

"As expected of the mayor. Not satisfied with these results. We'll prep phase two immediat—"

"No! I never ordered that! You just did what you wanted!"

My shout didn't reach them.

They nodded in agreement.

"So humble."

They exchanged satisfied looks, bowed to me, and left.

Left alone, I slumped into my chair, deflated.

"My lord."

A low voice from behind.

Chills ran down my spine.

I turned. Genji was prostrated there somehow.

When did this ninja geezer sneak in!?

"Reporting. Black Spider Clan mission accomplished."

"When did I ever! Give you that mission!"

I yelled without thinking.

"Why does silence become orders, sighs become commands!?"

As my words ended, his body trembled like a leaf.

"Ahh...! This old body failed to grasp my lord's profound intent, acted rashly, and troubled you!"

Tears streamed from his eyes.

"What use is life for this Genji!!! I'll atone with my life right—!"

Shing—

Genji reached for his sword.

Again. Seppuku showtime.

"N-no! No! You did great! Perfectly!"

I jumped from the chair, rushed over, grabbed his hand to stop the draw.

"How! How did you read my mind so perfectly without me saying a word? Incredible! As expected of Genji! Black Spider psycho!!"

I lavished every praise I could muster.

"Overpraise, daimyo! Merely my duty as your shadow!"

Beaming with emotion, he kowtowed at least nine times before leaving satisfied.

I collapsed onto the sofa, utterly drained.

Felt like every ounce of energy was sucked out.

Nyaa.

A lazy meow at my feet.

Nero.

He batted something toward me with his paw.

An empty premium cat treat box.

I stared blankly at him.

"You... cleaned up too?"

Nyaa—

Nero smugly licked his lips and nudged the empty box.

Silent demand: Refill time, human.

'I cleaned this spotless. Stock up, peon.'

"Cleanup my ass! You just scarfed it all! You fat cat bastard!"

Argh, seriously.

Why does everyone pull this on me?